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Helen Cheng

@dr-helenc.bsky.social

鄭志倫 | Asian-American, first-gen, scientist, living life | #PhDone #AAPI #coastalresilience #fisheries #knauss NOAA Davidson Fellow | she/her | Tweets are mine

43 Followers  |  37 Following  |  5 Posts  |  Joined: 09.12.2024  |  1.5341

Latest posts by dr-helenc.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
Maine Sea Grant funding terminated as Trump administration makes cuts to NOAA The move to discontinue the $4.5 million grant program leaves 20 employees and the Sea Grant’s programming in limbo.

The experience fundamentally changed my career path by providing a chance to work in Congress & focus on the intersections of science, politics & society.

The U.S. government just axed Maine Sea Grant. www.pressherald.com/2025/03/01/m... /2

01.03.2025 19:45 — 👍 19    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 1
What happened in the federal government this week? News overwhelming? Unsure of what is real and what’s bullshit? Here are some big things that happened this week. 
Federal Budget Negotiations - Update 
House Republicans are one step closer to passing their budget. This budget would extend tax cuts for the rich (making more than $743k) passed during the previous Trump administration.
In order to pay for the extended tax cuts, Republicans—who currently control the House—plan to make huge cuts to programs that help low-income people, including:  
$880 billion in Medicaid cuts. 
$230 billion cut to SNAP benefits. 
What passed this week is called a budget resolution bill, which tells committees how much they have to change their spending/revenue. Each committee will now work out their budget details before coming back to the full House of Representatives for a vote. The Senate also has to vote for this budget so there is still time to act!
The Department of Defense released a memo that directs all branches of the military to discharge all current transgender service members and to no longer admit new service members if they are trans. 
The only “exception” is if a trans person remains in the closet and exhibits no symptoms of mental distress. So, there are no exceptions. 
If current service members do not voluntarily resign from their posts, they will be required to pay back their signing bonuses, which can be as high as $50,000.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): They give us weather forecasts and help us anticipate weather emergencies like hurricanes and tornadoes. They also protect our oceans and coastal communities. Up to 800 people were fired this week.

What happened in the federal government this week? News overwhelming? Unsure of what is real and what’s bullshit? Here are some big things that happened this week. Federal Budget Negotiations - Update House Republicans are one step closer to passing their budget. This budget would extend tax cuts for the rich (making more than $743k) passed during the previous Trump administration. In order to pay for the extended tax cuts, Republicans—who currently control the House—plan to make huge cuts to programs that help low-income people, including: $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. $230 billion cut to SNAP benefits. What passed this week is called a budget resolution bill, which tells committees how much they have to change their spending/revenue. Each committee will now work out their budget details before coming back to the full House of Representatives for a vote. The Senate also has to vote for this budget so there is still time to act! The Department of Defense released a memo that directs all branches of the military to discharge all current transgender service members and to no longer admit new service members if they are trans. The only “exception” is if a trans person remains in the closet and exhibits no symptoms of mental distress. So, there are no exceptions. If current service members do not voluntarily resign from their posts, they will be required to pay back their signing bonuses, which can be as high as $50,000. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): They give us weather forecasts and help us anticipate weather emergencies like hurricanes and tornadoes. They also protect our oceans and coastal communities. Up to 800 people were fired this week.

This page contains a list of links to take action. 
Call your Senators and US Representative - find them here. 
Tell them to protect Medicaid and SNAP!!
Ask them when their next town hall is. 
Protest - join the growing TESLA TAKEOVER
Elon is the reason that the basic functions of the government are about to stop working. 
Hit Elon right where it matters, his money. 
Learn about more issues by attending a session of the Chicago Salon Club 
A fun and casual environment to learn from experts on so many topics!
Donate to Team Red, White and Blue
Veterans are being hit hard by the firings, and trans service members need more help than ever right now. 
Something else - don’t like these options? 
Here’s a very long list of so many actions you can take!

This page contains a list of links to take action. Call your Senators and US Representative - find them here. Tell them to protect Medicaid and SNAP!! Ask them when their next town hall is. Protest - join the growing TESLA TAKEOVER Elon is the reason that the basic functions of the government are about to stop working. Hit Elon right where it matters, his money. Learn about more issues by attending a session of the Chicago Salon Club A fun and casual environment to learn from experts on so many topics! Donate to Team Red, White and Blue Veterans are being hit hard by the firings, and trans service members need more help than ever right now. Something else - don’t like these options? Here’s a very long list of so many actions you can take!

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?! Hi all - dropping my second weekly flyer about what happened in the federal gov this week. Please share!!!

Print your own copies here: shorturl.at/VYRDr

01.03.2025 16:36 — 👍 234    🔁 137    💬 12    📌 8

Times New Roman 11 for manuscripts and proposals,
Arial 10 for presentations and outreach materials

12.02.2025 13:59 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!!! We will continue to persevere and make our voices heard
👩🏻‍🔬👩🏽‍🔬👩🏾‍🔬👩🏿‍🔬👩🏼‍🔬
#internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience #womeninscience

11.02.2025 20:37 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
How a young Chinatown cook helped establish birthright citizenship in the US Wong Kim Ark’s fight to be recognized as a US citizen 127 years ago led to an expansion of the 14th amendment

How a young Chinatown cook helped establish birthright citizenship in the US.

Wong Kim Ark’s fight to be recognized as a US citizen 127 years ago led to an expansion of the 14th amendment.

#History
#AAPI
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

28.01.2025 22:59 — 👍 145    🔁 48    💬 3    📌 5

新年快樂 Happy Lunar New Year! Year of the Snake 🐍

29.01.2025 14:23 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

W/ federal funding Ive been able to:
-Pay for & go to college,
-Conduct research for grad school &PhD
-Learn & network w amazing people
-Organize extension programs that help people
-Provide help to people
-Support my family & friends
-Inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams and goals

29.01.2025 14:21 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Hello!!! I am now on BlueSky.
I am a newly minted Doctor!!! Woot #PhdDone
Time for a fresh start!!!

09.12.2024 14:27 — 👍 8    🔁 0    💬 4    📌 1

@dr-helenc is following 20 prominent accounts